No looking back for Fort Chip Native

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After more than 10 years out in the work force Ernest Gladu has gone back to school. "I decided I'd have to go back and finish Grade 12," explains the father of three. "Continuing education at Victoria Composite High School is where you'll find me most evenings for the next while."

Gladu was employed in the Fort McMurray area in the construction business for over 10 years before making the decision to upgrade his education. "I took an Art 30 course a couple of years ago and that changed my life," he says. "I'd been pencil sketching all my life, but after that I got serious.

Gladu says the teacher couldn't believe he had received no previos training. "I guess I just took to the lessons naturally," he laughs.

Gladu became a member of the Alberta Indian Arts and Crafts Society two years ago and has entered work in the last two Asum Mena competitions. One of this year's entries, entitled simply "Wolf", reflects Gladu's upbringing in the Fort Chipewyan area of northern Alberta. "Animals and birds are a big part of my work," he explains."I had the advantage of growing up where seeing wolves and buffalo was a common occurrence." His Indian heritage shows itself in his paintings, which are mostly acrylics.

"I use natural settings and scenery the way it is back home," he says. He see potential in students at his former Fort Chip school. "Maybe some day I could go back and teach are."

In the meantime, he is working at the Canadian Native Friendship Center in Edmonton as assistant recreation director. He keeps busy after working hours with school classes and trying to build up a portfolio to submit with his application to college. "I hope to get into the Alberta College of Art or the Banff School in 1991. And I'd love to get into a two-year program offered in Miami, Florida to study at the university level." He hopes to graduate eventually with a degree which will enable him to teach art.

Gladu also enjoys having a little fun with his art too. "I enter poster contests and I like doing signs and calendars." He also welcomes the challenge of portraits and is finding requests for them increasing from friends and family. "It helps when you start to feel a little financial reward, it's really encouraging," he laughs.

Gladu's favorite subjects are his own children. "I paint them lots, usually from photographs," he says. His wife Jan is supportive of his work and says she enjoys seeing a painting come to life.

Gladu says he received encouragement from Fort Chipewyan residents too, who have requested his work as going away gifts for various local personalities and to redecorate homes and offices. "Right now, I am experimenting a lot with soft pastels and oils. But I am becoming known for my natural settings, animals, eagles, and so on, and that is the reason for some of the requests."

He plans to continue studying, showing and selling and making art his life. "There's no looking back now," he laughs.